Our Public Preserves are Open. But, Please, Keep Your Dog at Home.

After a few weeks of staying home, you and your dog are likely getting restless. Before you take your dog for a hike, please read! Hawaiian Islands Land Trust is committed to following government COVID-19 regulations, and also understands the relief that a quick hike or dip in the ocean provides. We are currently keeping our public preserves open for outdoor exercise for individuals and immediate household members conditioned on strict adherence to social distancing guidelines. Unfortunately, we have seen a recent increase in the number of people bringing dogs with them to our public preserves. As such, we thought it necessary to revive an old blog post as a friendly reminder that our public preserves are still open following COVID protocols, but, please keep your dog at home.

Dogs are not allowed at most of the Land Trust's public preserves, which we purchased and protected, in large part, because they are home to endangered and threatened wildlife. We must ensure that the preserves remain a safe place for Hawaiʻi's native species. Native birds forage and nest on these lands, and Hawaiʻi's two native mammals - the ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat), and the ʻīlioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal) - raise their young on the lands and waters that make up our preserves. 

It has been demonstrated that dogs – on leash or off – are detrimental to native wildlife.  Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are considered to be a subspecies of wolves (Canis lupus), and wildlife perceive dogs as predators.  The presence of dogs (even the friendliest puppy on a leash) causes native wildlife to move away, temporarily or permanently reducing the amount of available habitat in which to feed, breed, and rest.  Animals become less active during the day to avoid dog interactions. Furthermore, the scent of dogs repels wildlife and the effects remain long after the dogs are gone.  If a dog is running in the area, the birds become alarmed and cease their routine activities.  This increases the amount of energy they use, while simultaneously reducing their opportunities to feed.  Repeated stress causes long-term impacts on wildlife including reduced reproduction and growth, suppressed immune system, and increased vulnerability to disease and parasites.  Some studies show that dog-walking in native habitats causes more than 40% reduction in bird abundance, and more than 35% reduction in bird diversity, even if dogs are kept on leash.  Sadly, we have witnessed loose dogs killing an entire colony of native ground-nesting birds.  So, please, enjoy our HILT preserves individually or with your immediate household members only, and after you get home, show Fido the pictures of your adventure. Mahalo.